So you want to learn how to dance? That’s awesome to hear. From my experience, learning to dance is one of the most emotionally satisfying and life-enriching skills that I have learnt in my time. And yes I said learnt, because my opinion is that anybody can be taught how to dance, as long as they’re willing to put in the effort. I can’t say when or how long it will take for you to reach your goals but ask any dancer and they’ll tell you the journey of dance is more about the memories and experiences along the way rather than the final destination. When learning anything, whether it be dancing or how to do any kind of physical activity, the single most important thing you can do to keep yourself on track is to surround yourself with people who are on the same journey or have been in your position before and know what you’re going through. Surround yourself with people who are humble and positive and who want you to grow because it inspires them to grow too. For most people, this means finding a suitable dance school.
Many beginners start off wanting to learn how to dance but don’t know anything about the industry or what to look for when choosing a suitable school or academy. Unfortunately for some, they pick the wrong institution, get discouraged and quit, never to try dance again. To aid you in not becoming one of these people, we look at 3 things to do before choosing a dance school.
1. Establish what kind of dance style you want to get into. There are many different styles of dance out there. Hundreds. Thousands even, but only a few select ones are taught in dance studios as they are the most popular. I personally have delved a couple of months into salsa which I’m looking to get back into, I have also done a term of contemporary and tried half a ballet class but decided I did not enjoy pointing my toes. Bboying or breakdancing as its more commonly referred to was more for me. It had foundational moves but allowed me to create new ones and put my own expression and character into it. Urban choreography, otherwise known as hip hop (a debate I won’t get into) is the most popular urban style taught in dance studios and an increasing number of people are getting into it due to the latest music videos and streetdance movies. My recommendation is, if pointing your toes makes you shake your head then stay away from ballet and get into some form of urban dance.
2. Don’t always choose the closest studio. If dance is a hobby you intend on pursuing for a while, it’s in your best interests to get off to the best possible start you can. This might mean travelling a little bit further than down to your local dance school but trust me, the difference in quality can be surprising. Shop around, don’t be scared to try out a casual class or two to see if the classes meet your criteria and once you find one that is suitable for you, commit to at least 3 months before you look for other options. In the learning curve of dance there is usually a period of rapid improvement followed by a period of stagnation where students feel like they aren’t getting anywhere but before long it’s followed with another period of improvement and the cycle continues. All too often students don’t give themselves enough time and end up quitting before they get over that first plateau period.
3. Choose a school that specialises in the style you want. This might seem like a moot point but the amount of students I witness thinking they’re amazing hip hop dancers just because they take hip hop classes offered at their ballet school astounds me. It’s kind of like if I went to the butcher to buy my fruit and vegies. Sure he might be able to get some basic produce in for me but he’s not going to have the expertise or quality as compared to a fruit and veg farmer. And remember what I said about it being in your best interests to get off to the best start you can? Go to your farmer for your fruit and veg.
Now that you’ve found your dance school, it’s time to begin the learning process. Your attitude in regards to this is a defining factor in whether you enjoy yourself on your first and subsequent lessons or whether you quit straight away. Most people are scared to do dance classes because they don’t want to look clumsy in front of other people. I totally understand this because I have been in the same position and I still have those feelings every time I take class. However the paradox is everyone in class is too preoccupied with learning and improving themselves that they don’t even care if you mess up a move. Even if they see you accidentally trip over and fall on your face, they’ll be laughing with you, rather than at you because they know that could’ve happened to them. Rather than shying away in a corner and trying to learn by moving as little as possible so you don’t look like you’re messing up too much, my advice is to leave your embarrassment at the front door and just go with it. Introduce yourself to your teacher; introduce yourself to the people immediately around you in class. From experience as an instructor, the whole mood of the class changes to a fun and encouraging one when students bond with each other and help each other work towards improving. And if you want to get better quicker, PRACTICE. Going to one class a week and trying to learn the same moves you learnt last week because you forgot is a sure fire way to stunt your growth and leave you feeling like it’s all hopeless. Don’t fall victim to this trap. Even if you just practice for 15 minutes 2-3 times a week, you will notice a marked improvement in the next week which will boost your confidence which in turn fuels more improvement. So stop making excuses and get onto that positive cycle of practicing. You can thank me later.
If you live in Perth, I would recommend checking out the Cipher Dance Academy. Specializing in hip hop styles of dance, CDA offers kids and adult classes in hip hop / urban choreography, breakdancing and popping. Their class hierarchy and lesson structure ensures that students have a clear path to proceed from a beginner level through to an advanced stage. Knowing that you can plan your path from the beginning makes a huge difference in reaching your goals. All of their staff are helpful and friendly and the vibe of the classes are fun while maintaining a high level of work ethic. They also regularly offer specials and incentives to start so go to www.thecipher.com.au and begin your dance journey today!
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